NEONATAL EXPOSURE TO A GLYPHOSATE-BASED HERBICIDE ALTERS THE OVIDUCTAL DIFFERENTIATION OF PREPUBERTAL EWE LAMBS

ALARCÓN R; LOVERA L; ALEGRE AL; INGARAMO PI; RIVERA OE; DIOGUARDI G; MUÑOZ-DE-TORO M; LUQUE EH

Mar del Plata

Congreso; REUNION CONJUNTA SAIC SAI&FAIC SAFIS 2022; 2022

Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) are extensively used in Argentina and abroad. In the beginning, GBHs were declared safe, but many publications in recent years have reported their harmful healtheffects. We reported the adverse effects of neonatal exposure of ewe lambs to GBH on ovarian and uterine development. Here, considering oviduct is essential for fertility, we aimed to evaluate the GBH effects on oviduct development of neonatally exposed ewe lambs. To this, crossbreed (Corriedale x Hampshire down) ewe lambs received orally, from postnatal day (PND) 1 to PND14, GBH (1 mg/Kg/day of glyphosate, n=8) or saline solution (vehicle, n=12). On PND45, we performed the salpingectomy, and oviductal weight and length were measured. Later, we collected and processed ampullar and isthmic sections for both RT-PCR and histology analysis. No changes in oviductal weight or length were found. Luminal epithelial height, number of glands, and myosalpinx thickness were evaluated using Picrosirius-Hematoxylin staining; all animals showed similarresults. Proliferative activity was assessed by immunodetection of Ki67. In GBH-exposed animals, higher cell proliferation was observed in the luminal epithelium and the subepithelial stroma of theampullar region, but no changes were observed in the different compartments of the isthmus. Expression of molecules involved in cell proliferation and oviductal development [steroid receptors (ESR1 and PR) and IGF molecules (IGF-1 and -2, IGF-1R, IGFBP5)] were determined by RT-PCR. No altered expression of evaluated genes was observed in the isthmus nor the ampulla. Since cell proliferation is controlled through different pathways, further studies are necessary to identify the molecules involved. Deregulation of proliferative status might affect tissue homeostasis and development, with consequences on oviduct functionality and reproductive health.